I've been trying to write this post for weeks.

I have decided to "retire" from Pats Pulpit. It was not an easy decision, and it's something I've contemplated for a long while -- since late October. I never would have finished the 2007 season, but for the Patriots' historic run. And even when that was done, it's been hard to let go. Even part way through my recent hiatus, I could hardly bear to admit it was time to move on.

But after three fantastic seasons (two with SB Nation), I owe you, the Pats Pulpit faithful, an explanation.

There are three reasons.

1. Time is not on my side. At this stage in my life, I simply have more important endeavors upon which to focus. Running a blog like Pats Pulpit and running it properly as it deserves -- as you deserve -- takes a tremendous amount of time.

   My concept of a blog does not necessarily jive with the concepts others have. I tried to run Pats Pulpit as an alternative to the mainstream media. To compete as such, I was determined to provide thoughtful, professional, well-researched and well-documented writing. I chose not to shoot from the hip, and I took pride in spelling, grammar, readability, presentation. It's the way I was taught and trained as a professional journalist.

   Unfortunately, that ideal takes time to the point that Pats Pulpit becomes a full-time job, and I already have one of those. And two full-time jobs leaves little time for the other commitments and diversions that make life worth living.

2. Huge effort, small return. This blends from the previous reason. Part of the reason I had to put in so much effort is that there were too few to share the burden. That's not to say there was no help at all. Guys like 6thround, Josh and MichaelMcCoy were tremendous assistants, and I appreciated their efforts. The problem for them as for me is that there has been little reward for the time and effort.

   I had not the time nor the inclination to pursue advertising, and I'm not sure that would have made much of a difference. Any time I spent chasing advertising took away from the precious little time I had to write, and I didn't think it was worth the sacrifice. What little would have been available would have been even less by the time it was spread around to the deserving parties, and that would have been token. SB Nation, while headed in the right direction, barely makes enough to support the infrastructure and office personnel it takes to maintain this ever-growing network, and the network has been unable to compensate the bloggers. Perhaps that would have made it easier to "hire" assistants; it would have been nice, but I don't think it would have mattered in the long run.

   Even then, I didn't get into this for financial reward. I got into this because I love the Patriots. And even more than that, I love football. There's more of a story there, but this isn't the time or the place. Suffice it to say that this was the one avenue that appeared to bring me closer to the professional game. When I was a journalist, there was little I enjoyed more than covering high school and college football. I hoped Pats Pulpit would lead to the opportunity to cover a pro team -- my pro team.

   That was not to be. The Patriots and the league apparently see little value in "fan blogs." The traditional mainstream is sufficient for their purposes. While it's possible that it is to be, even next season, I cannot dedicate myself as I have and do justice to the site and to you the fans with the proverbial carrot always promised, never delivered.

3. And that brings us to the most important reason: It's just not fun anymore.

   Even with the potential of financial compensation and obtaining media credentials, for me running this Patriots blog just isn't worth it if it's not fun, and there are too many outside influences that detract from the enjoyment of writing for the audience for whom this blog is intended. I guess it's too much to ask in today's society, to expect people to treat each other civilly and respectably.

There are many people to thank, and like those people accepting any of the myriad back-patting awards, I fear I will forget some deserving party. For that I apologize.

Thanks to 6thround, Josh, MichaelMcCoy and InBradyWeTrust for their formal contributions.

Thanks to scsatr and mrbandw, who have been loyal readers and commenters since the Blogspot days, and RSNexile and RBooth who were among the first of the SB Nation incarnation.

Thanks to all the recent posters (too many to mention) who have really helped Pats Pulpit turn the corner and become a true community.

I hope you all stick around and keep it that way.

Thanks especially to Blez, the founder of SB Nation, who saw fit to bring me aboard the network to run its third NFL blog.

And thanks to Marc Normandin -- a rising writing talent, founder of SB Nation's Beyond the Boxscore, and a current contributor of Baseball Prospectus among other projects -- who first encouraged me to start a blog.

My best to all of you.

---- Tom Masse

p.s.: Go PATRIOTS!!